Analyzing Steelers 2026 Third-Round Pick Daylen Everette - Controlled Technician
- Kelly Anozie
- 46 minutes ago
- 4 min read
If there is one place in America that has consistently produced elite football talent over the last two decades, it’s Norfolk, Virginia.
Norfolk has been home to several household names, including former All‑Pro safety Kam Chancellor and Super Bowl–winning receiver Plaxico Burress. Current Commanders linebacker Jalyn Holmes, now a decade into his NFL career, also hails from the city.
Continuing that tradition is Daylen Everette, the son of Norfolk State University alumni Dedra and Darren Everette, and the brother of former Elon football player Donovan Everette. Few players from Norfolk possess the combination of talent, pedigree, and production that Daylen brings.
After starring at Norview High School and later IMG Academy, Daylen was selected to play in the 2022 Under Armour All‑American Game. With numerous Division I programs pursuing him, he ultimately chose Georgia. As a true freshman reserve defensive back, he appeared in 14 games for the eventual National Champions, recording 13 tackles and a pass breakup.
In his sophomore season, Daylen earned a starting role in all 14 games, finishing with 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass deflections. His interception came in the 2023 Orange Bowl. Building on that momentum, his 2024 campaign became his breakout year. He earned Third‑Team All‑SEC honors after starting all 14 games and delivering impact performances throughout the season. His signature moment came in the SEC Championship Game against Texas, where he posted two interceptions, a pass breakup, and a quarterback pressure — earning SEC Championship MVP. He later landed on both the Senior Bowl and Jim Thorpe Award watch lists. As a senior, Daylen elevated his game once more. He finished with 50 tackles, an interception, a career‑high 10 pass deflections, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in the 2025 Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss. For his performance, he earned First‑Team All‑SEC honors from both the Associated Press and SEC coaches.
Despite being just 22 years old, Everette displays a surprisingly mature approach to the game. On film, he wins more with polish and technique than with raw athletic gifts such as elite speed or burst. That combination — refined skill, high‑end instincts, and steady growth — makes him the type of prospect capable of outperforming his draft slot. He’s exactly the kind of ascending defensive back the Pittsburgh Steelers could use in their secondary.
The Patient Playmaker
What stands out about Everette on film is how seasoned he already is in coverage. For a player his age, you’d expect flashes of over‑aggression — the kind that turns into grabs, panic steps, and penalties. Instead, he plays with a calm, calculated demeanor. He trusts his technique, stays composed through the rep, and never lets the moment speed him up. It’s mature, disciplined corner play well beyond his years.
In the 2024 SEC Championship matchup against Texas, Everette is left on an island against a talented wideout in Matthew Golden. At the snap, Golden releases vertically, then fades outside for roughly eight yards before snapping off a stop route.
Everette never panics. He stays square, keeps his eyes locked on the chest, and maintains hip‑pocket leverage without grabbing or opening the gate early. The moment Golden drops his weight to break, Everette flips his hips cleanly, drives underneath, and beats him to the spot.
Ball arrives — Everette’s already there. Interception.
This is textbook press technique: patience, discipline, and a perfect transition leading to a game‑changing play.
Closing Speed and Range
Daylen Everette’s 4.38 speed shows up clearly on film—he eats up ground with long, smooth strides and closes space faster than receivers expect. His range lets him stay patient at the line, recover from early separation, and still arrive in phase at the catch point. Whether carrying verticals or driving downhill, he plays with the same effortless burst his testing numbers suggest.
Everette does a great job showing off his closing burst on this rep against Ole Miss. Pre‑snap, he’s locked in on the motion man, sliding with him across the formation. As soon as the ball is snapped, he triggers downhill, reading the quarterback and driving on the flat route. It only takes a few strides before he’s on top of the receiver, timing the breakup perfectly. It’s a simple play, but it’s a clean snapshot of the closing speed he brings to the table.
Supporting The Run
Everette’s run‑support effort is one of those traits that doesn’t always pop on a highlight reel, but it absolutely matters when you’re projecting a young corner. He’s not a finished product as an open‑field tackler — his angles and strike zone can still get a little loose — but you can see real growth. What stands out is his willingness to trigger downhill and get involved, something a lot of pure cover corners shy away from.
Everette puts together a really clean, fundamentally sound rep here against Alabama. The crosser slips through the first layer of the Georgia defense and looks like he’s about to move the chains, but Everette steps up and shuts it down. What makes the play pop on film is how technically solid it is for a young corner: he sinks his hips, takes the correct angle, lowers his pads, wraps up, and finishes through contact. No hesitation, no arm‑tackling — just a textbook stop that prevents a first down.
It’s the kind of rep that shows he’s not just willing to tackle, but capable of doing it the right way. For a developing corner, that’s a big deal.
Everette arrives in Pittsburgh as a young corner who already plays with veteran control — patient in press, clean in transition, and calm at the catch point. Pair that with his closing burst and improving run support, and you get a defender whose strengths translate quickly to the NFL. He’s not just a traits swing; he’s a polished, ascending technician with the mindset to keep sharpening his game. If his development stays on track, the Steelers may have landed a long‑term starter who outperforms his draft slot and stabilizes their secondary.